The 2008 Maritime Heritage Assessment Survey along the Karpaz Peninsula, Cyprus

Abstract

Since the arrival of Turkish military forces on the island of Cyprus in 1974, archaeological activity below the water in northern Cyprus has been virtually non‐existent. In August 2008, however, an international team conducted an underwater survey in this disputed region to document and assess the variety of maritime cultural heritage present along part of the coastline. This paper discusses the team's survey methods and goals, the discoveries, ranging in date from the 6th century BC to the 14th century AD, and plans for work in 2009.

© 2009 The Author

Key words:

• Cyprus
• maritime cultural heritage
• survey
• Karpaz Peninsula

Acknowledgements

Archaeology is always a group effort. I must thank Fuat Azimli, Figen Caner and Hasan Tekel for their support and supervision, and Athena Trakadas and Lucy Blue for their advice. My thanks to Uwe Müller and his team, particularly Bulent Kizilduman, Martin Bartelheim, and Lothar Herling. Bariş Karayel brought us to his diving spots, and Sanem Şahin and Rafet Aktan fixed our vehicle in record time. Lastly, I must acknowledge the efforts and skills of Huseyin Aydınlı, Hasan Istillozlu, Sevil Peker, Michaela Reinfeld, and Tuncay Sadikoğlu who made the 2008 season a success. Without their help, I would have been sitting on a beach by myself.

Notes

1 As the use of certain toponyms in northern Cyprus may carry political implications, the names of archaeological sites are those used in the referenced reports; thus the use of ‘Kyrenia’ when the town is now known locally as Girne. Similarly, local place‐names are used on the associated maps but other names, taken from the UK Ministry of Defence Survey Map of Rizokarpaso (Series K717, Sheet 7, Edition 4‐GSGS), are mentioned in the text.